OCD doesn’t have to run your life for years while you wait on medication
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is treatable, but for many people, the standard path of medication trials and weekly therapy takes months to show results, if it works at all. Brain Centers’ AMPA One Day Protocol uses accelerated neuromodulation, built on FDA-cleared TMS technology, to target the brain circuits involved in OCD, without medication, in a condensed course. TMS technology in general has FDA clearance for OCD; our clinical team assesses individual fit and applies our specific system as evidence-informed care.
The problem with the standard path
Many people cycle through multiple SSRIs before finding one that helps, if one does.
Traditional TMS for OCD is FDA-cleared but typically requires daily sessions over several weeks.
Compulsions and intrusive thoughts don’t pause for a six-week treatment calendar.
How Brain Centers approaches OCD
- ✓Accelerated TMS targeting the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuitry implicated in OCD.
- ✓Delivered on our accelerated, condensed schedule, a full course in as little as one day for qualifying patients, rather than spread across weeks.
- ✓No mind-altering drugs, no sedation. You’re awake and comfortable throughout.
- ✓Private relaxation suites, not a clinical waiting room.
Who this is for
Adults with OCD who haven’t found lasting relief from medication and/or therapy alone, or who want an accelerated option that fits a demanding schedule. A telehealth consultation with our clinical team confirms fit before any in-person visit.
What to expect
Free consult
A free 15-minute call, no pressure, we listen to your history and goals.
Telehealth visit
A clinical consultation to confirm fit and build your personalized protocol.
In-person treatment
Your course, delivered at our San Diego / La Jolla facility.
What OCD can look like
OCD involves a cycle of unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental rituals (compulsions) performed to ease the anxiety those thoughts create. It can center on contamination, symmetry, safety-checking, intrusive taboo thoughts, or many other themes. Common signs include:
- ✓Intrusive, unwanted thoughts that cause significant distress
- ✓Repetitive behaviors (checking, washing, counting, ordering) done to reduce that distress
- ✓Recognizing the thoughts or behaviors are excessive, but feeling unable to stop
- ✓Rituals or avoidance that take up an hour or more a day, or interfere with daily life
FDA clearance, plainly stated
TMS technology broadly has been FDA-cleared for OCD since 2018. Our specific device, the AMPA One System, is FDA-cleared for Major Depressive Disorder. For OCD, our clinical team applies the underlying technology as evidence-informed, individually assessed care.
In crisis right now?
If you or someone you love is in immediate danger, call or text 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or dial 911. Help is available right now, please reach out.
The circuitry involved in OCD
OCD is linked to overactivity in a loop connecting the orbitofrontal cortex, striatum, and thalamus, a circuit involved in flagging threats and driving repetitive checking behavior.
Targeted stimulation
Magnetic pulses are directed at cortical regions connected to this circuit, aiming to help normalize its activity over a course of treatment.
Medication-free option
For people who haven’t found relief from SSRIs or exposure-based therapy alone, or who want a non-medication option, TMS offers an alternative or complement, not a replacement for a discussion with your provider.
Condensed schedule
Accelerated protocols compress a full course of stimulation into a tightly managed day rather than weeks of daily visits.
Safety and side effects
Most people tolerate TMS well. The most common side effects are mild scalp discomfort, headache, or lightheadedness during or shortly after a session, they typically ease quickly. Serious side effects, including seizure, are rare when standard safety screening is followed. There’s no sedation and no recovery time.
TMS isn’t right for everyone
TMS is not appropriate for patients with certain metal or electronic implants in or near the head (aneurysm clips, cochlear implants, deep brain stimulators, non-MRI-safe devices) or a personal or family history of seizures. Our telehealth screening is designed to catch this before any in-person visit.
Common questions about TMS for OCD
TMS technology in general has been FDA-cleared for OCD since 2018 on certain devices. Our own device, the AMPA One System, is FDA-cleared for Major Depressive Disorder; for OCD we apply the underlying TMS technology as evidence-informed, individually assessed care. Our clinical team will walk through this distinction with you during your consultation.
Not necessarily, that’s a decision for you and your prescribing provider. Many people use TMS alongside existing medication or therapy rather than instead of it.
Our clinical team has heard it before. Intrusive-thought OCD themes are common and are not a reflection of your character or intentions, they’re a symptom of the condition. Discretion and non-judgment are core to how we operate.
A free 15-minute call followed by a telehealth clinical consultation, where our team reviews your history and goals before confirming candidacy and building your personalized protocol.
Ready to talk to our clinical team?
Call 800-290-0175 or book a free 15-minute consult online.